Here at the iPhone App Review we are constantly seeing new ways in which the iPad is capable of enhancing early childhood development, making it one of the most important (and coolest) resources a modern parent can have. And at the heart of that innovation are apps like Rikki-Tikki-Tavi HD, an iPad app by developer XIMAD.

Function and Design

Those of you familiar with Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” will instantly recognize the story at the center of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi HD. The iPad app features the tale of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, repackaged in HD glory for the iPad. The app presents the text in the same manner you would expect from a children’s book, with clearly readable lines surrounded by lightly-toned illustrations. However, the app adds a bit of modern flavor by allowing the reader to manipulate just about any object on the screen. It’s a great innovation, and it adds a lot of entertainment value to an already engaging story.

The artwork and interface presented here are very crisp as well. Navigating to different pages is as easy as pushing a leaf arrow at the bottom, or pulling down the table of contents from the top of the screen. Discovering these may take a second, as there’s not much by way of in-app documentation, but it’s far from impossible to manage. It’s worth noting that the artwork perfectly matches the story, and is top-notch in every way. This app would be equally at home as a traditional children’s book as it is in digital format: The artwork is simply that good.

It’s not often in this business that we get to say an iPhone app is truly unique. However, this iPhone app review proves that CalcPad, by developer Chipotle Labs, is the rare exception. The iPhone app offers a service you may not have even known you needed, but one you’ll certainly find useful.

Functionality

The idea behind CalcPad is both simple and tricky: Simple in the fact that it just works, but tricky in the fact that it’s a bit creative. The app is, first and foremost, a fully-functional calculator. When first booted, the user is presented with a number cruncher very similar to the stock iOS offering. Interestingly, there is no tilt for scientific mode, which though disappointing, is hardly a deal breaker. However, the real surprise of CalcPad comes with a quick two-finger scroll up from the bottom. After a quick flick, a feature-rich notepad is revealed, offering the user a multitude of ways to take notes, add photos to jottings, or even surf the web with a secure in-app browser. The intention here is, obviously, to keep your private notes secure: CalcPad is almost like a trapdoor for your iPhone, or a false bookcase.

The idea of securing notes behind a calculator is certainly a bit gimmicky, but it hardly harms the app. In fact, it rather makes CalcPad cooler. I felt a bit like a spy, flicking my way through a calculator to get at my secret notes. Certainly this isn’t a feature everyone needs—or even wants—but at the end of the day, CalcPad has created something new and totally fun, even if it is a Why-didn’t-I-think-of-that? kind of app.

Each level is a new puzzle to solve in the name of intergalactic salvation when you play Joe Versus from Star Technologies. If you have a soft spot for humanity, or any other carbon-based life form, partner up with Joe, his daughter Olivia and her cat Cheeto to take down the evil alien.

Gameplay:

While performing my iPhone app review, I found myself faced with a puzzle board covered in menacing tetrahedrons advancing towards my hapless avatar. It seems that Joe, a space barge pilot, had a little run in with an evil alien and now he has to figure out how to clear game boards of tetras from his barge or face the worst.

Use your avatar to place explosive charges on the board. Blowing up brown stone tetras or green toxic tetras is good form. You can even expand and arm the toxic tetras you explode to clear adjoining tetras. The red tetras need to go over the side though, so plan your charges carefully. Clear all the proper tetras without getting squished or pushed over the edge to win a level. That sounds simple enough, but tricky patterns and the ever-advancing wall of tetras makes the Joe Versus iPhone app challenging. Thankfully, self-preservation is a fabulous motivator.

Every day you make countless decisions. Everywhere you turn someone wants you to choose. Paper or plastic? Right of left? Sushi or Schezuan? Flipping a coin is so clique. Letting your iPhone use unfathomable random algorithm software to flip it for you sounds much more mysterious and trustworthy. Let Help Me Decide , an iPhone app from iAstute Inc. take the stress out of life’s little decisions. You won’t regret it. Or, if you do, you can blame it on your iPhone.

Functionality:

While testing the range and scope for my iPhone app review, I found myself strangely drawn in by Help Me Decide. To get you started Help Me Decide has several preloaded options you may use. For instance, if you aren’t certain what type of shoes to wear today simply load the preexisting options, tap on “Apparel” then “Shoes.” They haven’t been in my shoe closet, I can tell because if all I had to choose from was “Black,” “Boots,” “Brown” and “High Heels” we might not be having this discussion, I’d be shopping instead. But you get the picture. Press the blue plus sign in the upper right-hand corner to add more options. You can also tap the red negative sign to remove an option.

Once the screen displays your choices shift your attention to the bottom of the screen. There are four animated randomizers to choose from. My favorite has a parrot fly in and pick for you. Not much interaction there, but it’s pretty funny to see a parrot decide that today I’m wearing leopard print flats. If you want to make it best out of five use the same randomizer five times and press the red arrow in the bottom right corner for a history of your results.

It’s natural to want your children to grow with grace and succeed in life. So often a solid education is the key to securing a happy future for your children. The new iTeacher iPhone app from Apps Dev Team makes fun, adjustable learning on-the-go a reality for parents and children alike. Help your children reach their potential and hone their skills with iTeacher.

Functionality:

Does your little one think math is for the monkeys? Tell them they’re right and hand them the iTeacher iPhone app. The iTeacher app walks children through a series of math equations in a fun, colorful environment populated with adorable monkeys, a sure way to keep them engaged. An on-screen tally records their answers; bright yellow bananas add up for all problems answered correctly, while a separate stack of banana peels will let them know if there is work to be done.

After answering ten addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems correctly your young pupil will be rewarded with some game time. Choose from “Hens,” a Duck Hunt style game to enhance hand-eye coordination, or “Matchstick,” where the goal is to force your opponent to take the last matchstick standing. After playing for a few minutes iTeacher dutifully returns its young pupils to their lessons.

iTeacher will automatically focus on the areas where your student could use a little extra practice and populate problems accordingly. There is also an extremely thorough report functionality where you can track their progress and identify problem areas. I hope iTeacher expands their focus to include additional topics in the future.

Mothers are the unsung heroes of the work force. They juggle kids, jobs, homes, husbands, friends, bills and more with an unnatural aplomb that defies sanity. The new revamped iPhone app, iMommy from developer Kathleen Shimmield, tries to make the acting of being a mother a little easier with educational lessons and good clean fun for your little ones. It’s good to know someone’s looking out for you and yours.

Educational Factor:

The iMommy iPhone app is an educational tool and fun interactive game for younger children. While conducting my iPhone app review I saw firsthand how educational lessons were integrated in the application from the beginning. Creating and customizing your baby for iMommy takes a few simple taps. Babies are available in four different ethnicities and may be customized by tapping the three icons located at the bottom of the screen.

Launch a color lesson with the touch of a finger in the iMommy app. Select the area your little one wants to customize, either hair, eyes or outfit, and a brilliant array of colors from periwinkle to cranberry will cover the display. Kids can have fun creating wild outfits for baby, and then it’s on to the game.